Thursday, April 30, 2015

According to Sheriff’s Office Detectives, the preliminary investigation indicates that the residents of the home at McLemore heard a disturbance outside their home shortly before 11:30 p.m.

Residents of the home, including a male in his late fifties and his elderly father, went out to the front yard to check on the disturbance. The homeowners were confronted by two male adults, both unknown to them.

The residents sustained injuries as the confrontation escalated. During this time, the son shot at the two subjects, resulting in their deaths.More Here

An armed robbery attempt in Little Woods ended Monday night (April 27) with the robber being shot with his own gun, New Orleans police said.

Police identified the suspected robber as 21-year-old Travis Stanley. According to preliminary information provided by NOPD, Stanley tried to rob a 25-year-old man around 9:50 p.m. in the 7700 block of Allison Road. The two men struggled, police said, and the 25-year-old managed to wrestle Stanley's gun away from him.More Here

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

WILMINGTON | The shooting death of a man Thursday on Castle Street was justified, according to the New Hanover County District Attorney's Office.

"After a full review of the facts and circumstances surrounding the shooting death of Joshua Simpson … the District Attorney's office, in conjunction with the Wilmington Police Department, has determined that the shooting was justified by self-defense," District Attorney Ben David said in a news release issued Monday.

One person was wounded early Sunday when the occupants of a car unleashed a volley of gunshots at revelers at a house party and a neighbor fired back at the fleeing vehicle, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Governor Haslam has reluctantly signed HB0995, which reduces the number of gun free zones in the state. Previous legislation had allowed local governments to ban guns from locally administered parks, if they posted prominent signs saying that guns were banned. HB 0995 removed that exception in the law, thereby allowing a limited ability to exercise second amendment rights on the public lands of locally administered parks.

The history of the bill is rather interesting, in that Governor Haslam was against the bill before he was for it. He likely only signed the bill to avoid the embarrassment of a veto override. The bill was strongly supported in both the House and the Senate, with votes of 65 to 21 and 26 to 7, respectively. Those numbers are far more than enough to override a veto.

The bill is an incremental victory for second amendment supporters, but the Tennessee Firearms Association notes that there are several areas of concern about the new law. One of the major areas of concern is a modified version of the "roaming school zone" law that was finally fixed in Indiana. Under that law, a person who was legally carrying a firearm could have become an instant felon if a school had started to use an area where she was at, for school purposes. In Tennessee, it only applies to parks, but still is a ridiculous addition to the law. People who legally carry guns enhance school safety, they do not detract from it. From getresponse.com (Tennessee Firearms Association):

Instead, the 2015 "parks" law generally
removes local control over local parks.
However, it preserved and perhaps
worsened the school grounds "used" issue
so that any park that is used by a school
automatically morphs into a prohibited
property. That school grounds
morphing can result in a Class E felony
conviction if a permit holder is in the
park and knew or should have known that a
school was using "the property."

The TFA interpretation tracks what I have read in the bill(pdf). In addition, the bill requires that the signs stating that the parks are gun free zones stay up(pdf)!

SECTION 4. No department of state government shall change, remove, or replace signs as a result of Sections 1 or 2 of this act prior to the time the signs are regularly scheduled to be changed, replaced, or removed or are required to be changed, replaced, or removed by any other law or due to destruction or theft; provided, that the general assembly may specifically provide funds for the purpose of removing or replacing signs in a general appropriations act.

So, the gun free zones in parks are done away with, but the signs saying that they are gun free zones stay in place. In addition, if a school softball game is going on in the park that your are walking through, you are subject to arrest on a felony if the prosecutor decides that you "should have known" that it was a school event in progress. The same could well apply if a group of high school students was on a field trip and approached you!

The law contains dangerous traps for peaceable people exercising their second amendment rights. A much better bill might have be passed if the legislature did not have to worry about a veto by Governor Haslam. It is interesting to note that Governor Haslam promised to sign a constitutional carry bill four years ago, as shown in this video.

“If I lived out west in, say, sparsely populated parts of Montana, Nevada or Wyoming, I‘d at least own a Henry .44-40 rifle, and maybe a Colt .45, too,” Englehart writes. “But I live in Connecticut. I have no desire to own a gun of any kind, but if I did, I wouldn’t mind registering it, going through a background check and I’d certainly take a safety class and store it away from little hands. Nor would I want a gun in the possession of mentally unstable folks or criminals either.”

Nobody thinks anything he proposes will do that, or that such goals are what he’s really after do they? Because Englehart has already revealed his end game. If it were up to him, people in Montana, Nevada and Wyoming would not be able to claim a right to own a Henry or a Colt. But don’t take my word for it -- take his.

New Hampshire has always been a state that seemed likely to be one of the first to pass constitutional carry, which allows people who may legally own guns to carry them either openly or concealed without a permit. While attempts have been made in the past several years, various mishaps have resulted in no bill being passed. Sister state Vermont has the longest border with New Hampshire, and Vermont has had constitutional carry since 1791, and one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.

This year House Bill 582 was killed in the criminal justice committee, and it looked as if constitutional carry reform would take at least another year.

But Senate Majority leader, Jeb Bradley sponsored a constitutional carry bill, SB 116. It passed the Senate, 14-9. It passed the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee 10-6. It seems likely to pass the whole House. Here is the analysis of SB116:

This bill:I. Increases the length of time for which a license to carry a pistol or revolver is valid.II. Allows a person to carry a
loaded, concealed pistol or revolver without a license unless such
person is otherwise prohibited by New Hampshire statute.III. Requires the director of the
division of state police to negotiate and enter into agreements with
other jurisdictions to recognize in those jurisdictions the validity of
the license to carry issued in this state.IV. Repeals the requirement to obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver.

The reform is unlikely to become law, however, because Governor Maggie Hassan, a lifelong Democrat, has been coy about commenting on the bill. I believe that her veto of the bill is likely. Her comment is of the standard non-support type - "I support the Second Amendment, but". From the unionleader.com:

"I support the Second Amendment," she told reporters last week, "but (this bill) raises some serious issues."

Hassan is a little shy about being a Democrat. Her Governor's website does not identify her party affiliation. The wikipedia article reveals that she is a lifelong Democrat from a lifelong Democrat family.

However, Hassan seems to be a practical politician. If she gets lots of grassroots pressure to sign the bill, she just might do so. It does not seem likley that she will, and the majority in the Senate is just short of being able to override a veto.

If she vetoes the bill, it will be clear that she is a supporter of the second amendment in name only. Perhaps showing voters that side of her is one of the major purposes of this bill.

Monday, April 27, 2015

NORTH SMITHFIELD – The ACLU today filed a lawsuit in federal district court on behalf of a North Smithfield resident, seeking the return of weapons that were seized from him over six years ago by the local police department and which the department still refuses to return to him.

The lawsuit, filed by RI ACLU volunteer attorney Thomas W. Lyons on behalf of Jason Richer, argues that the North Smithfield Police Department violated his right to due process and his right to keep and bear arms by retaining his property without just cause. The ACLU successfully filed a similar lawsuit against the Cranston Police Department three years ago.

The man will find it easier to live in the aftermath, than if he had done nothing.According to police, the couple's ordeal began early Saturday when they went downstairs for their morning coffee to find Kahle in the kitchen.

He pulled a gun and ordered them into the living room and demanded money and food. He held them for about 20 minutes while they "pleaded with him to take their money and food and leave," police said in a statement. Kahle took cash, credit cards and food before leaving, police said, but once he was out of the house the male resident grabbed his gun and confronted Kahle in the driveway while the female called police.

Rutter died Feb. 20 after his son shot him with a rifle. Carter County Deputy Curtis Robinett testified that Cornman's mother tried to intervene in a dispute between father and son. Cornman told authorities that Rutter grabbed a pistol and held it to Tammy Cornman's head. Marcus Cornman then fatally shot his father.More Here

Police say the owner of the home where the burglary was taking place, returned home and noticed that someone had forced their way into the residence. The homeowner entered the home and noticed two suspects inside the home who were attempting to leave. Police say the homeowner then fired a shot at the suspects.More Here

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Constitutional carry is gaining momentum in the states. Kansas recently passed legislation making it the sixth state to have constitutional carry (where people who may legally own guns have the right to carry them openly or concealed). Mississippi passed a bill characterized as 90% constitutional carry, and a bill is pending in Maine that has majority support in the legislature, and likely support of the governor.

The South Carolina bill, H3025, recently passed the second read in the South Carolina House, 90-18. It still has to pass a third read, but amendments on the third read are required to be unanimous. From the facebook page of one of the legislators who authored the amendment:

Please join me in saying thank you to the 90 members of the South Carolina House of Representatives who today, by a vote of 90 to 18, gave second reading to the Clemmons, Yow, Hixon South Carolina Second Amendment Empowerment Act (H3025), with an amendment by Rep Mike Pitts and myself to authorize permitless concealed carry by every South Carolinian who can legally purchase a handgun! The bill, as now amended, allows SC CWP holders to carry in 27 states (instead of the current 20) Including GA and opens the door to recognizing every state's CWP. Additionally, the amendment authorizes every law abiding South Carolinian who can legally purchase a firearm, to carry it concealed without a permit! The bill awaits third reading in the House next Tuesday and then passes to the Senate for consideration. Thank you to every member of the SC House who supports the Second Amendment!

This is a permitless carry bill instead of a constitutional carry bill, because it would allow concealed carry without a permit, but not open carry. The bill also expands reciprocity to all other states' concealed carry permits. South Carolina is one of only six states that prohibit open carry. It is likely that Texas will be removed from that short list this year. From the bill:

"(A) It is unlawful for anyone to carry about the person any handgun, whether concealed or not, except as follows, unless otherwise specifically prohibited by law: with
the intent to use the handgun unlawfully against another person. The
intent to use a handgun unlawfully against another person shall not be
inferred from the mere possession, carrying, or concealment of the
handgun, whether it is loaded or unloaded.

(B)No person shall carry a handgun off of any real
property the person occupies as a resident, owner, or lessee if the
person is under twenty-one years of age or carries the handgun in a
manner that openly exposes it to common observation, with the following
exceptions:

Governor Haley said that she would sign a constitutional carry bill, so she would presumably sign a partial reform such as this one. From a thestate.com:

COLUMBIA, SC — S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley said
Tuesday that she backs a proposal that would make it legal for most
South Carolinians to carry guns – concealed or in the open – without a
permit or the training that the state currently requires.

It is unknown if the bill will be able to survive legislative gymnastics in the Senate. Constitutional carry has been introduced in previous years by State Senator Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, but has been killed in committee, then, and this year, by Senator Larry Martin R-Pickens. By being passed in the house, it might be possible to circumvent the legislative power of Martin and his committee. It might not be necessary, as the bill does not allow open carry, which offends Senator Martin. From WLTX about the previous constitutional carry bill:

"You can carry a weapon openly if this bill is adopted and I'm offended
by that," said committee chair Sen. Larry Martin (R-Pickens).

If the bill goes to Martin's committee, and he strips out the permitless carry provision, and then passes the bill, it would go to the House for concurrence; if the House disagrees, then the bill could go to a conference committee. Members of the conference committee are appointed by the speaker of the House to a committee for the entire biennium. I do not know if the same applies to the Senate.

If the Senate insists upon its amendment, a message is sent to the House listing the names of three Senators appointed to a conference committee. The Speaker of the House then appoints three members of the House to a conference committee. The six members meet and try to reach an agreement. If they agree, their report is sent to both bodies for adoption.

This would allow the legislature to 'work around' a recalcitrant committee chairman. That could happen if the leaders of the Senate and House both support the bill.

If the bill passes and is signed into law, it will create a new category of state; one where you do not need a permit to carry concealed, but are not allowed to carry openly.

On 23 April, an alert neighbor stopped an ongoing crime spree by shooting a burglary suspect in the leg, allowing police to apprehend the suspect. While the situation is still under investigation, it appears that the shooting was justified, given the facts reported. From the Lake Charles Police Facebook page:

Lake Charles Police responded to a prowler call in the 3700 block of
Vanderbilt Street. While on the way to that call, Officers were advised
that a shot was fired at the same location. When officers arrived, they
discovered that a homeowner had encountered a subject running from a
neighbor’s back yard. The male ran toward the homeowner who then fired
one shot, striking the subject in the leg. The male fled
the scene prior to officer’s arrival. While checking the area,
officer’s discovered that the subject burglarized three separate homes
and dropped a bag that contained property from the burglaries. After
fleeing from the scene, the subject entered a vacant home on Yale
Street. After leaving that location, he walked to the area of California
Street where he was apprehended.

Only a small number of criminals are required to commit a large number of crimes. Reduce the number of criminals, and the number of crimes goes down. It is not a hard concept to understand.

Burglars are seldom caught in the act by police. There are simply not enough police to do so. Burglars are much more likely to be surprised by a homeowner or neighbor. Most burglars are young males. In this case the suspect is a juvenile. They can be particularly dangerous, as they may not have yet learned how little they need fear the criminal justice system.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

The incident happened Thursday afternoon at Beasley's Power Equipment on Highway 16 when a man ran out of the store with an expensive chainsaw. The man reportedly got into a vehicle and started driving away.

Police said the clerk ran out of the store after the man and fired two shots at the vehicle. One of those shots hit the driver of the car in the head.More Here

ARLINGTON — A suspected burglar was shot to death by a homeowner Thursday afternoon, police said.

Just after 4 p.m., police responded to a call at a home on the 900 block of Highcrest Drive in Arlington. The homeowner told police he heard a loud noise coming from the back of the home and found two men who had broken into the house.

“As the resident approached the garage, he observed a white male crawling out from under the garage door. The resident called for the male to stop; however, the male ignored the resident and the male lunged,” a statement from the sheriff’s office explained. “The resident called for the male to stop, however, the male ignored the resident and the male lunged. The resident fired one shot in the direction of the suspect, however, the resident lost sight of the suspect. The resident went to check the building and discovered the suspect had been shot and was down between the buildings. The resident went back to his home and called 911.”

Over the past decade, there have been two reports of open carriers being attacked. In one case, the attacker tried to grab the openly carried pistol; in the other case, the reason for the attack is unknown. Both attacks failed. There have been two other reports of open carriers having their firearm stolen. One of those cases was in an area where an openly carried firearm was required to be unloaded.

It is more likely for concealed carriers to be attacked, because the attackers do not know that they are armed. The vast majority of criminals do not want to attack an armed person. Sometimes the attacks fail, sometimes they succeed. There are advantages and disadvantages to both concealed carry and open carry; it is foolish to claim that one or the other is "best" all the time. I carry both ways, as the purpose and circumstances seem best to me. I like to keep options. Here is the latest likely instance of a concealed carrier being attacked and his gun stolen.

On 12 April, 2015, there was another attack on an likely concealed carrier. It occurred at the Whitehall Carry Out in Whitehall, Ohio. A man who had a firearm in a holster was robbed at gunpoint by two men who had asked him for change before he entered a store to buy lottery tickets. When he exited the store, they accosted him at gunpoint.

It seems unlikely that the pistol was carried openly, as there is no report of the robbers telling the man to disarm during the robbery; and it is reported that during a struggle, the pistol fell out of the holster. From thisweeknews.com:

The man told police he was walking to the store to buy lottery tickets when two men asked him for change. The man said he had none and went inside the store.

After exiting, one of the men pointed a gun at him and said, "Don't get shot over change."

The victim, armed with his own gun, fought the man, reports said.

During the struggle, the victim's pistol fell from its holster, police said.

Reports said the two men took the victim's gun and his lottery tickets and fled in a vehicle.

It is clear that the robbers were reluctant to shoot, or that the firearm that they used was either non-functional or a fake. A significant percentage of criminals' guns are non-functional.

While no mention was made of a concealed carry weapons permit, it seems likely that the pistol was being carried concealed. It is rare to see an open carrier that does not have a retention system on their holsters, while it is common for concealed carriers to carry inside the waistband holsters with no retention system.

The report reinforces the wisdom of having a retention system of some sort on a firearm holster, if simply for retaining the pistol during a fall or violent movements, such as may occur in an accident or during exercise. Retention during a fight is even more important.

Alert readers are asked to report any more details of this event that they may come across.

Borcher acted in self defense, according to LCSO's investigation, when she was confronted that night by Helms, her husband, who was in a rage. Borcher told authorities she was in fear for her life during the altercation.

The sheriff's office says that according to the SAO'S finding, Borcher was justified and acted within the scope of the law in using deadly force to defend herself.

Police said the home invasion began around 2:15 a.m. near 77th and Montgall. According to police, the man who lives in the home called 911 to report that two men and one woman were trying to break into the home. He told police that he believed the three suspects were armed with guns.

According to police, the suspects shot at the resident and the resident fired back.

After further investigation, police say they learned Robert Johnson and 20-year-old Tevon Johnson had actually initiated an argument with another man that police are calling the victim. When that man left, Johnson and Johnson followed him to his home at Ashton Park Apartments.

That's when police say Tevon Johnson pulled a gun and started shooting at the victim. Investigators say the victim pulled a gun and returned fire, and in the ensuing fire fight, Robert Johnson was shot and killed.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

“He stood there and we talked for a while, [him] just asking for directions and me giving them to him,” Turner recalled. “Never thought that when I turned my head that that young man would stick a knife to my throat.”

But the 74-year-old grandmother had an option: An NAA Guardian that she had decided to carry with her that day.

“I seen the gun laying there. And I figured that would work better than the knife,” Turner said. “I just reached down, got the gun and turned around and pointed it to his face. And I told him, I said, ‘You back off, or I’ll blow your head off.’ And his eyes got big and he just backed up and he took off walking down the street like nothing happened.”

The pistol is clearly an earlier model of the NAA Guardian, a well made pistol designed for concealed carry and self defense. This one looks like a .32, but they are made in four calibers.

Here is a clear picture of the same model:

The event is the most common sort of self defense uses of a gun. A criminal attempts to violate someones rights. The victim produces a gun. The criminal runs off. No one is shot.

What is remarkable about this event is that it was publicized by a local television station, an NBC affiliate, no less. A few years ago, this sort of event would never have been aired. We are not told if Jewell Turner had a Concealed Handgun License. It does not matter. Texas liberalized their car carry law a few years ago, one of the incremental improvements in firearms law that does not make the national news, but can make large differences in peoples lives. Jewell did not need a concealed handgun license to carry in her car.

The social climate has changed in the last 20 years. Jewell is now recognized as having done a social good by stopping a crime. She can be proud of her actions, instead of worrying that she will be charged with the illegal carry of a gun, and have to spend much of her retirement money to defend herself from an anti self-defense prosecutor.

So the self defense action is reported to the police, and the local television station tells the story. Self defense actions such as this have always been common in the United States, but people were afraid to report them when the demonization of gun ownership was at its height. The fact that they are now being told shows that second amendment supporters have triumphed over the disarmists who say that such events never happen.

The old media is no longer able to spike stories such as this. This is why attitudes in the country have changed, and a majority now say that protecting second amendment rights is more important than restricting peoples freedom to protect themselves. When the disarmists raise awareness of the issue of the right to keep and bear arms, some people investigate, learn the truth, and are converted into second amendment supporters. It is a ratcheting effect. Once a person has "taken the red pill" they do not go back to supporting citizen disarmament. It does not work in the other direction. You do not see second amendment supporters becoming disarmists.

In rural Pottawotamie county in Oklahoma, the Sheriff appreciates the efforts of armed citizens. I was able to get in touch with the elder Alvin Cleere. His son had captured a burglar by being observant. The son, also named Alvin, had noticed a pickup truck at an property were it did not belong. He checked things out and found that the truck was loaded with stolen goods. From kfor.com:

He discovered the truck was loaded with stolen property, matresses, fixtures- even a kitchen sink. This fed up crime fighter pulled the 45 from his pickup. “That kind of helps out a little bit; I’m too old to fight anymore.” Alvin held the alleged thief until deputies arrived.

(snip)Authorities applaud his bravery and willingness to get involved.

Alvin's father said that he was very proud of his son, and gave me a phone number to contact him. I was interested because the story mentioned that this was the second time in a few weeks where an armed Alvin Cleere had helped to capture criminals. In both break ins, the suspects were wanted on outstanding warrants. I did some searching, but was unable to come up with the first instance in which Alvin used a gun to capture a wanted man in the commission of a crime. It was said to be a home invasion.

When I contacted Alvin, he immediately explained why I could not find the incident on the Internet. It was because no story had been written about it. He only did the interview for the second story because the sheriff had asked him to do so, as a crime fighting measure.

That was good strategy on the part of the sheriff. Alvin did not wish to talk to me further, but I was glad to learn that the sheriff understands the deterrent effect of armed citizens. This story illustrates that a great many incidents of the defensive uses of firearms are never reported in the media. In this case we have a home invasion that was investigated by the Sheriff. An armed citizen used a firearm to stop the crime and capture a criminal that was wanted on a warrant. Yet no story was written in the media. From kfor.com:

Surpringingly, it’s not his first citizen’s arrest.

A few weeks ago, he interrupted another home invasion and captured a wanted felon.

In a rural environment, there are few media outlets. Wonderful stories can go unreported, simply because no reporter is willing to travel to where the story is. People who use firearms to stop crimes are often reluctant to lose their privacy.

It is obvious that Alvin's .45 was not purchased on the spur of the
moment. It looks to be a semi-custom pistol, or at least of very high
quality. It makes one wonder if Alvin has a concealed carry permit,
was in the military, or has shot competition.

In both of these cases, no one was killed or shot. The case thus becomes one of the vast majority of defensive gun uses where no shots are fired.

When I was interviewing Ed Peruta, he sent me this notice of the event in Southern California where he will be giving a talk this Saturday. It is in Ramona, California. Ramona is located a bit North of San Diego. Here is a map of the location:

When officers arrived, they met with a woman and her boyfriend. The two said they were walking their dog down the street when a gray pit bull charged and attacked their dog and tried to bite them. The woman then pulled out a gun and shot the dog twice.More Here

Wow. about 1,200 firearms, at say $200 each, and 4,761 magazines, at about $10 each, that is about $300,000 in asset forfeiture. The Reese family certainly was severely mauled, but it was not destroyed. I can see where they settled, but a criminal investigation should be done on the prosecution.

Atttempting to bring an end to an ordeal that began in 2011, former gun dealers Rick and Terri Reese filed a settlement agreement with the U.S. government Friday in the District Court of the United States for the District of New Mexico. In addition to over $11,000 and property, the government, if it adheres to arbitration negotiations between attorneys, will be keeping “approximately 1,191 firearms” and “approximately 4,761 ammunition magazines.”

The family will get to keep real property including 85 acres with structures in Deming, gold and silver coins, four vehicles and 17 gun safes. A specific condition that “items being released to Claimants shall be in substantially the same condition they were in when they were seized” is the result of previously seized vehicles being returned with damage and missing parts, Rick Reese tells Examiner. Additionally, seized ammunition and powder “not specifically forfeited” will be sold to the public by a designated Federal Firearms Licensee with proceeds less dealer costs going to the Reeses.

The Texas licensed open carry bill has passed the third read vote in the House.

An amendment by Dutton was added on the third read. The substance of the amendment is that merely possessing a holstered handgun is not sufficient reason to detain or make an investigatory stop. On the third read, an amendment must obtain a 2/3 majority to be approved. This amendment reads:

CERTAIN INVESTIGATORY STOPS AND INQUIRIES PROHIBITED. A peace officer may not make an investigatory stop or other temporary detention to inquire as to whether a person possesses a handgun license solely because the person is carrying a partially or wholly visible handgun carried in a shoulder or belt holster.

This is a significant reform, in that it removes from the police the ability to harass open carriers on the pretext that the police need to determine that the carry is lawful. It places the burden of proof on the police, as it should be. It removes the authority of the government to demand "papers" to prove that you are allowed to do what you are peacefully doing.

The vote has not been certified by the House Clerk, but is expected to be shortly. As there are amendments on the bill as received from the Senate, further action is necessary. From state.tx.us:

If a bill is returned to the originating chamber with amendments, the originating chamber can either agree to the amendments or request a conference committee to work out differences between the house version and the senate version. If the amendments are agreed to, the bill is put in final form, signed by the presiding officers, and sent to the governor.

Conference committees are composed of five members from each house appointed by the presiding officers. Once the conference committee reaches agreement, a conference committee report is prepared and must be approved by at least three of the five conferees from each house. Conference committee reports are voted on in each house and must be approved or rejected without amendment. If approved by both houses, the bill is signed by the presiding officers and sent to the governor.

The bill still has to be agreed to by the Senate or go to a conference committee, and then to the Governor. I do not foresee any surprises on the way to Governor Abbott's desk.

A neighbor said he saw the mother and daughter walking down the street toward Martinez's car. Investigators said his father suspected Martinez was armed, so he grabbed his own gun before following his wife and daughter.

Witnesses heard two gunshots followed by screams. Investigators said Martinez fired first, then the father fired back and struck him in the chest. The mother was also shot in the hand.

The woman who called authorities said her ex-boyfriend, Jeremy Darnell, 37, was at the residence and refused to leave. Darnell was not at the house when authorities arrived, but Sheriff Graham Atkinson said the man later returned.

"Witness stated that Mr. Darnell had returned to the residence after the deputies left on the initial call and was subsequently shot through the storm door by Jamie Burton," the sheriff's office said in a news release issued Friday.

Monday, April 20, 2015

The massive efforts of the Texas open carry advocates, with thousands of open carry marches all over the state, seem to be about to pay off. While second amendment enthusiasts may not get everything that they wish, they will have instituted a modest reform that moves Texas toward a return to the strong protections of a right to bear arms that it was born with. Like the American revolution, the Texas revolution started with a distant government ignoring the rights of the people with an attempt to disarm them. The original
Texas declaration of rights of 1836 and the constitution of 1845 had
strong right to keep and bear arms protections. From the 1836 declaration of rights:

"Every citizen shall have the right to bear arms in defence of himself and the republic."

and the 1845 Texas Constitution:

"Every citizen shall have the right to
keep and bear arms in the lawful defence of himself and the State."

Licensed open carry removes some of the infringements on those rights that Texas accumulated after the Civil War, or War of Northern Aggression, if you prefer.

The licensed open carry statute in the House, passed with 96 votes for and 35 against, 1 voting present. From state.tx.vote(pdf):

Amendment 16 - Tabled (enables detention and disarmament of handgun carriers to determine if they have a CHL)

Amendment 17 - Withdrawn (exempted school board members to allow carry for them in schools)

Amendment 18 - Adopted 98-2 (Max $200 fine for carry handgun in prohibited area with 3006 sign, unless proof shown that they were asked to leave and did not, then it would become a misdemeanor)

It is interesting to note, that while numerous amendments from the Democrates were allowed to be voted on and defeated, the amendment by representative Strickland, that would have make the bill into a constitutional carry bill, was not allowed to be voted on by the full house.

There are a few issues that need to be worked out with the Senate. It is expected that no substantive changes will be introduced, and the bill will be sent to Governor Abbot essentially as passed by the House.

I have explained in previous articles how someone threatening to punch you is a potentially deadly threat. People sometimes have a preconceived notion that a "fist fight" is not a real threat. Some of this may come from watching television and the movies. Watching them, you can receive the impression
that a punch to the head is no big deal. That is not true. A punch to
the head is a very serious attack. It can disable. It can maim. It
can kill. The head is a vulnerable target, which is why an attacker
aims for it.

Another source may be a carryover of the "code duello", which was fairly common, even into the late 20th century, and is still practiced in some locations. In this version of the code, a man is invited to "settle differences" outside. Bystanders are recruited to assure that the fight is "fair" in that certain rules are followed. Usually these include: no weapons, no stomping, kicking, eye gouging, or biting. No hitting a person once they are down on the ground. The point is that the fight is controlled, at lest nominally, by impartial parties, and that there are limits.

In a situation where one person is the aggressor, and the other is not a willing participant, the situation is far different. First, a single punch to the head can be, and fairly often is, deadly. This has been well documented. In addition, everyone knows that a punch to the head can easily knock a person unconscious. Then they are at the mercy of the person who knocked them out, and can be killed or maimed with little effort. It appears that was the defense used in this case. From bedtonline.com

While being questioned by Kelley, Leggett said Bailey approached him with his fists up when he tried to leave the club.

Leggett said he had a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver for protection, and had not expected to see Bailey the morning of Dec. 8, 2013. He stated when Bailey came toward him, he did not see any weapons, but did not know if Bailey had anything in his fists. Leggett also said he feared Bailey could knock him unconscious, then take his gun.

Another interesting aspect of this case is that it involves a black man shooting and killing an "unarmed" white man. It does not fit the approved template of racism that the old media has been pushing, so it was not pushed to the national stage. In this case, the person shot was only threatening with his fists, and did not actually hit the person who had the gun, as happened in the Treyvon Martin/ George Zimmerman case.

The jury found Leggett's defense persuasive, and found him not guilty of first degree murder. I was not on the jury. I did not hear all the evidence in the case, and I believe that we should support jury verdicts. Juries are far from perfect, they are just better than the alternatives.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

In Oklahoma, Judge Thad Balkman ruled in favor of second amendment supporters when he issued a tempory restraining order to prevent the City of Norman from enforcing a ban on the carry of weapons during the Norman Music Festival. The city argued that it was not banning weapons; only that the private organization that it had given control of city streets and sidewalks was banning arms. From newsok.com:

Bateman and Assistant City Attorney Rick Knighton argued that the festival operators essentially lease a three- or four-block area from the city for the special event. By doing so, they become equal to business owners who have a right to ban firearms on their property.

Balkman said the city failed to show it has a right to “give away control” of city streets and sidewalks.

The Judge ruled that private entities can ban guns on their premises, but that public entities cannot circumvent the excercise of rights by the legal ledgerdemain of giveing away their authority. From normantranscript.com:

Balkman said according to the Self Defense Act there are only restrictions for carrying weapons if it’s a structure or building, not sidewalks and streets.

(snip)

The right to bear arms is not only a constitutional right, but also a right in the State of Oklahoma, he said.

The judge basically said that you cannot call a rose a turnip in order to violate fundamental rights. The use of language to destroy rights, and the structure of society, is a favored tactic of the left. Orwell had it right. When words mean only what those in power wish them to mean, then the law becomes only a means of enforcing authority. Freedom becomes slavery, and Ignorance becomes strength.

It is encouraging that Judge Balkman recognized this in the restraining order, early in the process. The Judge will hear further arguments on the first day of the Music Festival, on whether a permanent injunction will be issued.

Minutes earlier, he had intervened in a domestic dispute prosecutors say could have left him and his female neighbor dead. Prosecutors ruled he acted in self-defense last year when he wrestled a gun away from Christopher Strong, 27, and shot him with it.

None of that was immediately clear the night of Sept. 16. Police found the neighbor performing CPR on Strong when they arrived around 10 p.m. to the South Pine Street apartment where Strong lived with his girlfriend. Strong, shot once in the chest, died at the scene a short time later. Police handcuffed the neighbor, who at one point appeared on the verge of passing out and asked to speak to his pastor, according to police reports.More Here

Not certain if the above is the same Brandon Walker from Yakima, but it seems likely.

The man with three children who subdued a man who attacked him with a bat was openly carrying his Sig Sauer .357. A person said to be the victim's father, Brad Walker, gives more information. From yakimaherald.com, in the comments:

The attacker swung full force for his head. The gun was carried "open Carry" It was a 357 sig We think this person was trying to get the handgun by knockout hitting him in the head with a aluminum bat. He side stepped the blow and took the impact in the neck and shoulder he is receiving Dr.s treatment. He thanks god that no one else was hurt and that he did not have to use lethal force.

I was in law enforcement and during my academy training my son helped
me study he knew how to safely defend himself and his family lawfully. Hopefully this attacker will not be released to hurt other people.

Brandon Walker was openly carrying that day because of the weather, a common reason for people to openly carry firearms. From the yakimaherald.com:

Walker was openly carrying his .357 Sig Sauer pistol in a holster that day because he said it was too warm to put on a jacket to cover it. Walker has had a concealed pistol license since March 2013, according to police

It is not clear that the attacker was after his firearm, though that might be the case. It appears that as Zumwalt was only 20 years old, he could not legally buy a handgun from a dealer. It does not appear that he was a convicted felon, only that he had a misdemeanor conviction for assault.

Though it may be that we was after the pistol, that is a very unusual situation in the United States. It often happens in countries where firearms are difficult to obtain legally.

I suspect that the attacker in this case has severe mental problems. It should not be too difficult to find out. He was said to be homeless, 20 years old, and the previous conviction for misdemeanor assault was in municipal court.

The case is even more peculiar as Zumwalt is only 5'6", while Walker is 6' 1" and 360 lbs, a big man.

I have not found any mug shots of Trevor Zumwalt. The above is the only Trevor Zumwalt that I have found on facebook in the Yakima area.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Investigators say 35-year-old Chris Wehunt broke into the home in the Moon Lake community early Wednesday and attacked a man who lived there. During the attack, the resident shot Wehunt multiple times.More Here

ALTUS, Okla._Altus police are investigating after a business owner and a suspected burglar shot at each other when the owner spotted him in his business.

It happened around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday at La Munyon's on the corner of West Pecan Street and South Main Street. Police say the business owner told them he was resting in a back room, heard a noise and grabbed his gun. He said he saw a man in a hoodie, who shot at him. The owner fired back, but the man got away. No one appeared to have been hit.More Here

A Five-Seven pistol was successfully used for self defense in Arkansas on April 13, 2015. More than 20 rounds were fired, 20 of them being fired by a permit holder armed with what appears to be an FN 5.7 pistol. The casing on the left is being held by Henry Richards, who witnessed some of the gunfight. If you look at the casing closely, it is clear that it is a 5.7. The identifying characteristics are the rimless base shown by the extractor groove on the bottom, and the beginning of the bottleneck shown at the top. An additional indicator is that the magazine capacity was 20, standard with the FN pistol.

The pistol, developed by FN Herstal in Belgium, has become popular in the United States for its low recoil and flat shooting cartridge and 20 shot capacity in a pistol that only weighs 26 ounces.

Conway Police say 34-year-old James Allen was the victim of an attempted
armed robbery outside a home on Joyner Drive. Allen didn't want to
speak on camera but told THV11 he was walking to his car when two men
approached him demanding money. When he reached for his gun they shot
first. He returned fire and starting running away. According to a
police report Allen fired more than 20 rounds in the middle of the
street.

In the screenshot below, Henry Richards illustrates how his neighbor, James Allen, retreated down the street, firing as he ran. He is said to have fired the complete magazine of 20 rounds. Notice that the end of the street is a heavily wooded tree line. The 5.7 is also noted for losing energy quickly, due to its light weight bullets.

Only two of the bullets appear to have caused any collateral damage, and the damage was slight. One bullet hit a garage, the other struck Allen's own car.

One of the bullets struck a garage and the other struck Allen's car. A
Conway police spokesman says they don't have any suspects right now.
Allen did provide a concealed carry permit to police and is not facing
any charges.

Richards knows Allen, and showed how Allen was firing. Richards believed the shooting to be justified.

Friday, April 17, 2015

I do not recall a single criminal use of artillery in the United States, by someone outside of the government.

Interesting issue ... and here I'm referring to shotguns which were originally made with a rear pistol grip in place of a buttstock.

Under the Gun Control Act, the issue seems simple: they are pistols. Very big pistols, but pistols. Thus they have been treated, and sold in large numbers over quite a few years.

The National Firearms Act, however, poses a problem. Under it, they are not shotguns, since the definition of "shotgun" includes "designed to be fired from the shoulder." 26 U.S.C. §5845(f).

The problem is posed by a different part of the NFA, created when it was amended in 1968. Those amendments created a class of firearms designated "destructive devices," and really aimed at artillery pieces. As you might expect, these were VERY tightly regulated, nevermind that criminal use of artillery wasn't exactly a big problem.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Prosecutors will not seek a third trial of Bernell Benn, whose two previous trials for a 2012 fatal shooting in a Norfolk drug store ended in hung juries.

Charges against Benn have been dropped, said Amanda Howie, spokeswoman for Commonwealth’s Attorney Greg Underwood.

“While both juries indicated the majority of jurors wanted to convict, a unanimous decision is what’s required,” Howie said in a statement. “Respect for their service and careful consideration of several other factors led this Office to conclude a third trial would likely not produce a different outcome. We certainly still believe in our work on this case and understand this decision is difficult for the victim’s family.”More Here

YAKIMA, Wash. — A 32-year-old man who was shopping with at least three children at a Yakima Wal-Mart was the victim of an unprovoked assault when a stranger picked up a metal tee-ball bat and struck him, according to Yakima police.

(snip)

The victim, who police said has had a concealed pistol license since March 2013, then pulled a .357 Sig Sauer pistol from a holster and pointed it at the suspect, the affidavit said. More Here

They rushed to the location and found a woman who reported that she was entering her vehicle to head to work when two men approached her. She said one man held an unspecified object to her head, grabbed her hair and directed her to drop her purse, Weldon said in the release.

"As she and the suspect walked to the backyard, they fell to the ground and she retrieved a gun from the small of her back and fired at the suspects," the police chief said.

The Tennessee governor’s mansion is occupied by a Republican, and the GOP owns supermajorities in both the House and Senate. The result has been a wave of pro-gun measures, including a “Guns in Parking Lots” law approved in 2013 that gives employees the legal right to store a firearm inside personal vehicles even if it’s against an employer’s inclinations.

The move was a good one; the problem is that “an attorney general’s opinion later found that while the law decriminalized the actions of those who ignored posted gun bans on private property, employers could still terminate workers for violating company firearms policies,” explains WTVC News Channel 9.

Last week, the legislature passed and Gov. Bill Haslam signed a fix that allows fired persons the ability to take legal action. Now, even some Republicans contend the new law infringes on employers' rights. But that’s misguided — businesses still have the right to ban firearms, but vehicles don’t belong to the employer.

As Hot Air blogger Jazz Shaw concludes, “This law seems to me to have been a good compromise. The employer can bar carrying weapons in the workplace, but the employee’s car is not the workplace. And punishing them for such storage is an unreasonable burden on their constitutional rights.” Tennessee hit the bull’s-eye on this one.

How do we classify Mississippi now? In Mississippi, you do not need a license to carry a handgun openly. Under very liberal restrictions, you will not need a license to carry a handgun concealed. The new law goes into effect on 1 July, 2015, in two and a half months. From the NRA-ILA:

Late Thursday, Governor Phil Bryant (R) signed Senate Bill 2394, a bill
prioritized for passage by Lt. Governor Tate Reeves and sponsored by
Sen. Terry Burton (R), and Senate Bill 2619, sponsored by Sen. Haskins
Montgomery (D), into law. These two measures make critical pro-Second
Amendment reforms, including a clarification that a state-issued permit
is not necessary to transport a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver in
a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag or briefcase or fully
enclosed case.

I call this 90% constitutional carry because that is the effect. Want to carry a concealed handgun, and do not want to pay a tax to do it? Simple. Put your pistol in a purse or a camera case, a full flap holster, a tablet or cell phone type holster as shown in the Sneaky Pete holster above, put it in a backpack, fanny pack, gym bag, courier case, or just about anything else that "fully encloses" it, and you would be legal under the new law. I think a decent lawyer could make a good "case" that a full flap pocket would qualify.

It is hard to see how full constitutional carry reform would not pass the next session or two. The functional difference is so small as to be one of a few minutes preparation and intent.

Perhaps the next step would be to include virtually all holsters as meeting the definition of a "fully enclosed case" even if they are open topped inside the waist band types. One of the characteristics of armed criminals is an aversion to holsters of all types.

There are a couple of good reasons for this. First, holsters are usually attached to a belt, and are harder to get rid of in a hurry if the gun has to be disposed of. Second, they indicate a degree of foresight and preparation that most common criminals simply do not have. The requirement to carry a handgun in a holster, rather more securely than simply stuffed in a waist band, is not entirely unreasonable. Of the extremely rare accidents that occur with concealed carry permitees, a couple have been that of mini-revolvers dropping out of pockets and landing on their hammers. They are one of the very few designs left where that is possible, and then only if they are carried with the hammer resting on a cartridge primer, which should not be done.

So, do we call Mississippi a constitutional carry state, or not? I think we should go with the 'preponderance of the evidence' and call it constitutional carry. It will not be too hard to design an under the shirt holster that will meet the definition in the law. If you insist on tucking the handgun into your waistband, put it inside a shopping bag first. That would be a bit slower on the draw, but would appear to meet the legal requirement. If you want pocket carry without a permit, I recommend a cloth or leather case that encloses the pistol, the top of which snaps to each side of the pocket. Then you can access the pistol as easily as you could from a pocket, with the added advantage of more protection for the pocket and the pistol.

Pistol packers in the old west often reinforced their pockets with light leather. This would be a variation.

There are some other features in the new law as well. Concealed carry permit fees are cut, from $100 to $80. Active duty members of the Armed Forces of the U.S. will be exempt from the fees. The renewal fee is cut to $40, again, exempting retired LEOs, disabled vets and active duty members of the Armed Forces. Mississippi residents 65 or older have their renewal fee cut to $20.

It appears to me that with the addition of Kansas and Mississippi, the constitutional carry states have just jumped from five to seven.

I have seen families torn apart by issues involving end of life of the parents. This is an extreme case.

She then entered the house and fired multiple rounds. Hunter retreated to a bedroom, where he had a shotgun, and confronted Glacken in the kitchen, according to the release. Glacken raised her handgun toward him, and Hunter shot first, killing Glacken, police said.

The responding deputy said Hunter, a friend, had texted him informing him of the shooting. The deputy called 911 and arrived at the home to find Glacken dead.

Hunter and his wife, who was not identified by police, live with and care for the siblings’ mother, who is seriously ill, police indicated in the release.

"What the man yelled when he got out of the car is that my son had cut him off in traffic," said Catlett.

Things quickly got out of control. Catlett said Johnson had what appeared to be a gun in his hand. "He immediately attacked and hit my son with the gun," said Catlett. "I fired a warning shot to let him know that this was serious and we immediately tackled him to the ground got the gun away from him and told him it was over and to leave and instead he went to his car and got a hammer."

When Catlett saw the hammer come at him and his son, he said he fired his gun again and this time he shot Johnson.

The resident, a 37-year-old woman, told police three men kicked in the front door, awakening her. One of the men came into her bedroom, put a gun to her head and raped her while the other two ransacked the home.

The two men left, but the robber assaulting her began beating her in the head with the gun and demanding money. The woman told her attacker that a neighbor down the street kept all her money. The robber then forced the woman down the street to the neighbor's home on South 21st Street, the woman told police.

(snip)

The neighbor fired one round at the offender, hitting him in the chest. The gunman ran a short distance, collapsed and died.

Police say a resident at the complex heard some
noises coming from outside his bedroom window and went outside with a
weapon to investigate. He spotted two men standing by the window and
fired several shots at them. One of the suspects was hit. The other took
off.More Here

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

I arrived at the NRA Annual Meeting in Nashville late on Thursday, the 9th of April, so I was able to get to the press room only a little after they opened on Friday morning. Mike Vanderboegh was there. I had met Mike a couple of years ago. He looked and acted a lot healthier than he had in Houston in 2013, and he did not have to use a wheel chair. He is someone who I have admired ever since I learned of his activities and the Sipsey Street Irregulars a few years ago. I do not count attending the open carry event across the river from D.C. on April 19, 2010, at the 'Restore the Constitution Rally', as a meeting, as I do not recall talking to Mike at that time. He was a featured speaker at that event. A lot of water has flowed down the Potomac since then. That was before Mike and David Codrea broke the Fast and Furious story.

Mike was breaking another story at the NRA meeting. He considers this one to be just as important, in a different way, than the Fast and Furious story.

The details of the story involve a secret deal involving the NRA, the Congressional leadership, and the BATF. The point, as explained by Mike, was to extricate the BATF from a regulatory corner that they had painted themselves into. The NRA would be able to claim that they had 'rescued' millions of law abiding gun owners from being instant felons, and the item that had the disarmists from both parties salivating was a 'tweak' to the sporting purposes language that would grant much more power to the BATF to ban items at will.

The deal was to introduce the 'tweak' as language in a rider to a must pass bill, get it passed without fanfare or debate, then declare victory all around. It was most important that this be done in secret, because the 'sporting purposes' tweak would not bear close inspection.

The Democrats are said to be the ones who brokered the deal. An added fillip would be a ban on tracer ammunition; that was said to be a throw-away if it were needed. Better that I quote Mike on some of the details. From Sipsey Street Irregulars:

As explained by sources here and in the nation's capitol, the outlines of what one called "this cynical deal with the Devil" are as follows:1. The ATF will be let off the hook by broadening the "sporting purposes" language and legislatively negating their own determination that millions of heretofore legal pistol-grip shotguns produced over the past decades by companies like Mossberg are "destructive devices."

2. The NRA will get to claim credit for, as one source said, "riding in out of the storm on a white horse and claiming to have saved millions of firearm owners from federal prison, even though," he added, "everybody in the room with an IQ above room temperature understands that politically and legally there is no (expletive deleted) way that ATF can enforce this ruling on anybody. They can't and they won't . . so" he concluded, "the NRA will claim to have saved their members from a boogeyman that never really existed."

3. In return for allowing NRA to claim the credit, the Democrats demanded another ammunition import ban on "specialty ammunition," to include tracers. Some sources agreed that this last "gimme" was a "throwaway," in the words of one. "Look, their M.O. is to always demand more than they know they can get in to get the thing they really value. They'd like to get it but what they really covet is knocking a bigger hole in the Constitution by (widening the 'sporting purposes' language) . . . this deal will give them one big enough to drive Diane Feinstein's limousine through."

Mike and I have a lot in common, and we hit it off. I spent quite a bit of time with him at the NRA meeting, and I am convinced that he has credible sources to back up the claims in the article. I could not help but overhear fragments of his phone conversations. As to be expected with events of this political sensitivity, he has to be very careful not to reveal who he is getting information from.

Mike wanted to get the NRA on record about the story, even if it was "no comment". He asked me if I had a device that could take video. I had a couple, and we tested my trusty Sony to see if we could easily transfer video files. I use it almost exclusively for still shots, but I had done a couple of videos over the years. We could make it work, but the camera has a timed shut off, so we could not leave it on all the time. When the opportunity popped up, Mike and I were walking toward an exit. We went by Chris Cox and his entourage. This was too good an opportunity to pass up. I took off the lens cap, powered up the camera, and missed the opening remarks. I would have loved to get a picture of Mike shaking Chris Cox' hand, but I was not fast enough. Fortunately, I got the video going and the pair pretty well centered long enough to get the main thrust of the action.

I have to look at an upgrade in equipment and some backup solutions to do this right. But, as they say in the military, a good plan executed now beats a perfect plan executed too late. I can not say whether Chris Cox knew about the deal that Mike and David uncovered. But I can say that no such deal will be possible now that Chris Cox has made an emphatic public denial of the story, and admitted that he read it. It is funny that someone in the NRA seems to be claiming that a false "internet rumor" is floating about. From ar15.com:

Thank you for contacting NRA-ILA regarding recent negotiations between the National Rifle Association and the BATFE.

The NRA-ILA is not sure where this internet rumor started or by
whom, but it is completely untrue. I have attached the NRA-ILA sign up
for legislative alerts. This is the best way to stay informed of the
legislative activity within the NRA-ILA. We will continue to fight for
your 2nd Amendment rights day in and day out.
NRA-ILA Alert Sign Up
Respectfully,
Nick C

Some interesting misinformation there. Notice that the reply is about an "internet rumor", not a couple of articles by the people who broke Fast and Furious. Nor did the articles claim that there were direct negotiations between the NRA and the BATF. They claimed that the deal involved the NRA, the BATF, and politicians of both parties:

Last week, a secret deal involving the National Rifle Association
lobbying arm and brokered by politicians of both national political
parties was struck in Washington DC that would save the ATF from the
political and legal consequences of its own regulatory errors.

The wording is precise. We have Chris Cox on video admitting that he read the article, and "categorically denying it". It is hard to see where the "internet rumor" language comes from.

The NRA did good work in stopping the "background check" legislation. They need to learn that you cannot keep membership by playing these word games. You have to play it straight. The new media is unforgiving of falsehoods. Probably 70 percent of the people walking about have recording devices on them at any given time. The article should be enough for them to investigate and clean house, if they need too. And I do not mean firing a few people that they suspect might be sources for those intrepid investigative reporters, Mike Vanderboegh and David Codrea.

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Background

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” -- Thomas Jefferson

Syndicated columnist Charley Reese (1937-2013): "Gun control by definition affects only honest people. When a politician tells you he wants to forbid you from owning a firearm or force you to get a license, he is telling you he doesn’t trust you. That’s an insult. ... Gun control is not about guns or crime. It is about an elite that fears and despises the common people."

The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles -- Jeff Cooper (1920-2006)

Note for non-American readers: Crime reports from America which describe an offender just as a "teen" or "teenager" almost invariably mean a BLACK teenager.

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics.

Two lines below of a famous hymn that would be incomprehensible to Leftists today ("honor"? "right"? "freedom?" Freedom to agree with them is the only freedom they believe in)

First to fight for right and freedom,
And to keep our honor clean

It is of course the hymn of the USMC -- still today the relentless warriors that they always were.

The intellectual Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) said: "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."

How much do you know about Trayvon Martin? Did you recognize him in the picture above? If not you may need to know more about him. It's all here (Backups here and here)

“An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.” -- Robert A. Heinlein

After all the serious stuff here, maybe we need a funny picture of a cantankerous cat